Tractor mounted implement



AU@ 13, l940- c. H. wHrrE 2.210.994

TRACTOR MOUNTED IHPLEMENT Filed Oct. 23, 193e 2 sneezafsheet 1 INVENTQR Aug. 13.v 1940- c. H. WHITE 2.210,994

' :moron nomma Iurmmx'r und on. 193s 2 suona-snm. 2

iNvEN'ron ATTORNEY: l

Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES moron MoUN'rEp IMPLEMENT charles n. white, Moline, nl., assignnr to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 23, 1936, Serial No.. 107,158

The present invention relates generally to tractor mounted implements, and more particularly has to do with certain improvements in what are commonly termed tractor mounted tworow planters in which the two planting units are disposed at opposite sides of the tractor,

The present invention has for its principal object to provide improved lifting connections for raising and lowering the planting units of the implement whereby either planting unit may -be locked in raised inoperative position independently of the power lift means on the tractor by which such units are moved to operative and inoperative positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide in association with such locking mechanism, means for lifting the planting units into raised position independently of the power lift mechanism, thus adapting the planter for use with tractors that are not provided with power lift mechanism, thereby avoiding the necessity of providing a separate hand lifting mechanism.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means whereby the fertilizer attachment unit may readily be attached to or detached from the planting unit,

Other objects and advantageous features will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l isa side elevational view of a complete planting unit supported at one side of a tractor, the lifting connect-ions being illustrated in the positions they assume when the furrow openers of the planting unit are in operating position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the means for supporting the planting unit on the rear axle housing of the tractor and the means for driving the seed selecting mechanism, the fertilizer attachment unit being omitted;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing the seed selecting unit in position and the supporting means for the fertilizer attachment in position to be connected to the seed selecting unit;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the lifting connections and the means for supporting the same on the tractor, the lifting connections being shown in their raised and locked position;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the lift- 55 ing connections illustrated in Figure 4, indicating in dotted lines their lowered position and in full lines their raised position; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the supporting arms of the fertilizer unit in attached position on the planting unit.

Referring to the drawings, the tractor, which is only fragmentarily illustrated, is indicated as an entirety by the reference letter T. In a two-row tractor planter, such as that with which the present invention is more particularlyboncerned, the two planting units are separately and. independenly supported and connected on opposite sides of the tractor, and as such planting units are identical only that disposed on the right` hand side of the machine has been illustrated herein.

The planting unit is connected to the tractor by means of a bracket I I which is in the form of a suitable casting fixed to the front side of the rear axlel housing t2, which extends laterally of the tractor and forms a laterally extending part at each side thereof, by means of a plurality of cap screws I3 or in any other suitable manner. The cap screws I3 thread into tapped attaching means spaced apart laterally on the axle housing I2 to receive the laterally inner and outer 'screws I3, as best shown in Figure 2. Preferably, these attaching means are in the form of lugs or bosses having screwl threaded openings to receive the cap screws I3. The forwardly facing lugs can be seen at Ida in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and the rearwardly facing lugs are shown at IIb in Figure 4. The forward attaching lugs Haare substantially opposite, in a fore and aft direction, the rear lugs |412 (Figure 4). As best shown in Figure 2, each bracket Ii includes lat- 'erally spaced sections Ila and IIb adapted to fit against the forward attaching lugs Ida (Figure 4). The planting unit comprises a seed s electing unit and a fertilizer attachment unit wlfiich are indicated in their entireties by the reference numerals I5 and I6, respectively.

Theseed selecting unit I5 illustrated in the drawings is of more or less conventional design and is mounted on a cast frame member II. Each unit I5 comprises a hopper I8 which is provided with the usual seed-selecting mechanism (not shown) in the lower portion thereof. The seed selecting mechanism is driven from a drive shaft I9 journaled in spaced bearing sleeves 2I and 22 (Figure 2) formed integral with the supporting frame I1. Fixed on the drive shaft I9 between the bearing sleeves 2| and 22 is a bevel gear 23 which meshes with a bevel pinion 24 constituting a part of the seed selecting mechanism,

' 2) connecting the arms 25. At the lower ends of the bracket portions ila and lib, generally transverse sections lid connect the. vertical sec` tions Ila and IIb. The degree of offset of the upper part of the bracket relative to the lower'v part is sufficient to bring the upper portion or arms 25 substantially directly over the rear axle housing I2, as best shown in Figure 1. supporting frame l1 is connected to said arms by means of bolts 26 disposed in openings 21 in the arms 25. A deliveryv tube 22 receives the seed from the unit I5, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 the bracket and the supporting frame I1 are so shaped and so positioned on the rear `axle housing I2 of the tractor as to dispose the seed delivery tube 28 on the rear side thereof.`

The drive shaft i9 of the seed selecting mech` anism is driven by a sprocket 2l (Figure 3) which is loosely mounted on the shaft on the outer side of the bearing sleeve 2|, as shown in Flgure, and this sprocket in turn is driven by a drive chain 2| trained around said sprocket and around a sprocket 32 nxed on the rear drive axle 22; Power is transmitted from the sprocket 20 to the drive shaft i9 through a jaw clutch 24 which, in the illustrated construction, is of conventional type. 'I'he two elements of the jaw clutch 24 are moved into and out of clutching engagement by means ofa lever 35 pivotally supported at 30 on the bracket Ii (see Figure 2) and the lever is actuated by the lifting connections as will be described later herein. As shown, the sprocket 22 is made' in two sections, 22a and 22h, suitably bolted together, so that it may be placed in position on the driving axle 32 without removing the drive wheel 31 on the end of the axle 32. In the drawings the tractor drive wheel 31 on theright hand side of the tractor has been omitted in order to better illustrate the several parts of the planting unit.

The fertilizer attachment unit il of the present invention comprises a fertilizer container or can 40 (Figure 1) provided with the usual iertilizer selecting mechanism in the lower portion thereof. The can 40 is mounted in any suitable manner on a supporting frame 4|, and an operating shaft 42 for driving the fertilizer selecting mechanism is Journaled in bearings 43 and 44 formed integral with the supporting frame 4|. Also formed integral with and extending rearwardly from the supporting frame 4| are two spaced arms 40 and 41 (see Figure 3).- As best shown in Figure 6, the rear ends of the arms 4I 'and 41 are provided with semi-circular recesses 4l and rearward extensions III which at` their outer ends are provided with downwardly turned lugs or projections 52, and the inner ends of the bearing sleeves 2| and 22 of the seed selecting unit are provided with bosses or projections 52 which are shaped to correspond to the enclosure formed by the recesses 4I, rearward extensions I0 and lugs 52." A brace bar |54, having its rear end bolted as shown at 55 in Figure 3 to a lug 56 (Figure 2) formed on the bracket il, extends upwardly and forwardly therefrom and has its The upper end bolted lis/shown at I1 (Figure 1) to a lug il formed integral with and extending' downwardly from the supporting frame 4| of the fertillzer, attachment unit. Therefore, when the arms 4I and 41 vare hooked over the bosses of the bearing sleeves 2| and 22 and the brace 54 bolted in the fertilizer attachment unit will be supported in operating position on the tractor T. The rear end of the operating shaft 42 of the fertilizer attachment unit carries a bevel pinion Il (Figures l and 3), which, when the fertilizer attachment is mounted in operating position on the seed selecting unit. meshes with the bevel gear 22 4on the drive shaft Il for the seed selecting unit. It will be seen, therefore. that the bevel gear 22 of the seed `selecting unit transmits power to thefertlllzer-selecting mech-` anism as well as to the seed-selecting mechanism.

When it is desired to connect the fertilizer sttachment unit to the seed selecting unit, the fertilizerattachment unit is brought into the tilted position shown in Figure 3 and the lugs l2 can then be readily engaged over the projections The fertilizer attachment is then rotated upwardly about the axis of the shaft Il, into its proper operating position with the bevel pinion 0| in mesh with the bevel gear 22, after which the brace I4 is bolted in position to thereby securely fix the fertilizer attachment in place. It is understood. of course, 'that the reverse procedure will be followed when disconnecting the fertilizer attachment unit from the seed selecting unit. 4It will be noted from Figure 1 that as the fertilizervattachment unit is'disposed forwardly on the supporting bracket of the plant i ing unit, the delivery tube B2` which receives the fertilizer from the fertilizer selecting mechanism is disposed on the forwardside of the rear axle housing i2.

As shown in Figure 1. the fertilizer is fed through a furrow opener Il and the seed passes `from the tube 2l into a pipe or short tube Il xedly mounted at the rear end of a furrow opener B1. The furrow openers Il and l1 and the tube 6I are supported in any `suitable manner from a framework Il connected by means of a pair of draft links Il witha draft bar 1i suitably `fixed to and extending outwardly from the side of `the tractor. `The usual covering shovels 12,

press wheel 13 and depth limiting shoes 14 arev also supported on and connected to the framework 68 in `any suitable manner. As the particular details of the means for supporting theseV several parts from the framework Il and the specific construction of said framework have nothing todo with the present invention and are disclosed and claimed in my copendlng applicai 4) journaled in a bearing opening in a lug I3 and in a socket in a lug 84, said lugs being formed integral with the bracket Il. The shaft l2 is held in position by `means of a cotter pin l5 inserted through an opening provided therefor in the pin on the outer side of the lug Il. Fixed to the inner end of the pin I2 on the inner side of the lug 88 is the lower end of a hand ,lever l1 ,f an inwardly bent projection which extends into which extends upwardly to Aa point adjacent the operators position on the tractor, as shownin Figure 1. Pivctally connected tothe hand lever 8'| ,by a pivot bolt 88 is the forward end of a link 89, said link at its rear end being providedwith an arcuate slotel in an arm 02- fixed on the power lift rock shaftfel of the tractor.

1n Figures the severaly parcs of thev mungy mechanism are shown by dottedllnes in thev positions they assume when the furrow 'openers are, in loweredor working position, and upon actuation of fthe power lift to raise the furrow openers to inoperative'lposition the arm 92 is swung ina clockwise direction to move the several parts of v vthe lifting mechanism into the positions shown-` I in full lines.v When thepower lift is again opertion. independent ofthe powerlift, wherebythe plantingunit in use may be raised and lowered' ated the arm l82 will swing infa counterclockwise direction-whereby the furrow *openers will descend of 'their'` own weight to a working position.

' As it is sometimes ydesirable in the use of two row planters to use only the planting mechanism at one side of the machine and to hold the planting mechanism at the opposite side of.the machine in a'raised or inoperative position, in the:

present vconstruction means has been provided for locking either planting unit in a raised posiby the power liftat the will of the'operator while the other planting'unit is maintained in a raised inoperative `position. This means includes' a ,weighted dog 95 pivotally mounted on the arm 8|, as shown at 95, and this dog is so weighted 'that it tends to assume the position shown inl f dotted lines in Figure 5 vand in full lines in Fig- As above mentioned, when the implement is'- raised by the power lift mechanism, the arm 8| moves from itslowered position, shown in dotted.

lines inv Figure 5, to its raised position shown in full lines. As the arm 8| travels from such lowered position to its raised position a projection 81 on the dog 95 slides along an inclined surface 08 of a projection 09 provided on the bracket When the arm 8| reaches'its raised position.

the dog `95 reaches a point adjacent` the,k upper end 'of the inclined surfacef0`8, as shown in full lines in Figure. -Now, if the operatorwishes to 'lockthe plantingunit soas to 'hold it in its inoperative or raised position, to which it has been moved by the power lift, he has only to exerta lifting force or rearward 'pull on the lever, 81

sufficiently kto raisel the `furrow openers slightly.

higher than the position to which they have been raised by thepower lift.` will=ra`isethe dog v05 above the upper end of theprojec'tion vand the dog will swing in a clockwise direction under the influence of its own weight over the topr edge of the projection 80, whereupon when the operator releases the lifting force applied to the lever.

-81 the implement will belocked in a raised posi- I tion by reason of the dog 85 contacting the top edge of the'projection 88.

In this connection it will be noted that the ,Y provision of the slot 0| in the arm 02 of the power lift will allow the slight rearward pull on the lever 81 that is necessary topermit-thelocking dog 95 to move intolocking positicn'and also that such construction willpermit thepower lift rock shaft 08 to move in a reversedirection to lower the other planting unit on the opposite side of the tractor, as in such movement of the lever Il' or the lowering of such other unit theinwardly bent projection on therein"Y end of the link 88 0f the lifting mechanism that has been locked in vraised position will merely ride in its slot 0| in the arm 82. By this construction,

therefore, the planting unit at one'side of the tractor may be raised and lowered at the will of the operator; while the unit at the opposite side of the tractor is lockedl in a raised position.

Manually operated means hasbeen provided by which the operator may unlock the furrow openers from a locked raised'position so that they will-descend to working position, and such means includes a rotatable hand grip |8| pivotally mountedupon the upper endy oi!l the operating lever 81 (Figurel). The hand grip |0I .is

provided with a rearwardly'extending lug |02 to which isconnected the upper end of an operatingv v rod |08, the lower 4endofsaid rod-being connected to a lever |04 (Figure 4) pivotally connected to'the lever' 8l by any suitable means.' such as the pivot bolt 88 before described; A secclockwise direction. to move the operating rod |00 upwardly and simultaneously therewith to pull rearwardly to move the lever 81 to release the weight of the furrow openers of! of thelock-- ing dog 95. As the rod |08 moves upwardly it pulls the rod |05 rearwardly which in turn swings the dog $5 in a counterclockwise direction.'`

Thereupon the operator moves the lever in a forward direction and as the furrow openers move downwardly vunder their own weight the lug 01 on the dog 05 passes the projection l0,

thus permitting the furrow openers to continue their downward movement into working position. Byproviding the slot |01 in the arm |08 of the locking dog 95 it can in the locking'opera- Vtion swing under the influence of its own weight from the position shown in full lines in Figure 5 4to that shown .in Figure '4v without any interference 'bythe link |05, as in such movement of the dog the bent end |05 of the link |05 will slide -in such slot.

I It -will also be apparent .from the foregoing description that the hand lever 01 may be used for raising and lowering the furrow openers independently of the power lift, and, therefore, the present construction can be used not only on tractors that are provided with a power lift ',mechanismbut also `iust 4as readily on tractors that 'are not equipped` with such lift mechanism, andthis is an important advantage of the presi ent construction. l

It isof -course necessary` when the furrow openers are raised to inoperative position that the operation of the seed and fertilizer dispensing mechanisms be automatically stopped concurrently with such'ralsing operation, and the means provided for this purpose will now be de` scribed; 'I'he lever 35 which controls the operation of the jaw clutch I4 as above described is provided with an, arm which extends inwardly from thepvot connection 35 of the lever 35 with the frame and has its outer end over- I As this lever arm 8| is moved'upwardly in the raising operation of the furrow openers it will lying the lever arm 8| of the lifting mechanism.

contactthe arm' andmove the same upl75 wardly to thereby rotate the lever on its pivot 3B sufficiently to disengage the jaw clutch 3l, which is the position shown in Figure 2. As this clutch 34 controls the operation of both the seed selecting mechanism and the fertilizer selecting mechanism, the operation of such mechanisms will be interrupted whenever the furrow openers are raised to inoperative position.

While I have described, in connection with the accompanying drawings, the specific form in which I prefer to embody my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific means which I have herein shown and described, and that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

It is also to be understood that while I have illustrated and described my invention in 'connection with a tractor mounted planter, the invention is also applicable to any'other type of tractor mounted implement having units disposed at opposite sid'es of the tractor and wherein it is desirable that either unit may be locked in raised inoperative position independently of the power lift means on the tractor by which such units are moved to operative and inoperative positions, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will also be apparent that certain features of the present invention are equally applicable to tractors that are not provided with a power lift mechanism.

What I claim is:

1. An agricultural implement comprising the combination of a tractor having a power lift, an

' implement connected therewith and having operating mechanism mounted in iixed relation on the tractor and parts separate from said operating mechanism and adapted to be lifted into a raised position and lowered into an operating position, mechanism including lost motion means connecting said parts with said power lift to be lifted and lowered thereby, manually operated means connected with said mechanism and operative by virtue of said lost motion connecting means for lifting said parts into raised position without moving said power lift, driving connections for said operating mechanism, and means` for interrupting said driving connections responsive to movement of a portion of said connecting mechanism between said lost motion means and said parts, whereby movement of the latter into said raised position, regardless of whether the lifting is done manually or by said power lift, interrupts the drive to said operating mechanism.

2. In an agricultural machine comprising a tractor having a power lift and implement means supported on opposite sides of the tractor and each adapted to be moved into either of two positions, the combination of lifting means connecting said power lift with said implement means for moving the latter into one of said positions, means associated with said lifting means for locking each of said implement means in said one position independently of said power lift and for moving each implement means to said one position independently of said power lift, an operating mechanism associated with the implement means on each side of said tractor, a driving connection for each of said mechanisms. and means for disconnecting either of said driving connections responsive to movement of its associated implement means into said one position either by said power lift or independently thereof.

l3. In an agricultural machine comprising a tractor having a power lift and planting units supportedV on opposite sides of the tractor and adapted to be raised to inoperative position, the combination of lifting means connecting said power lift with said planting units for raising said units to inoperative position, means associated with said lifting means for locking each planting unit in inoperative position y independently of said power lift, means for raising each unit to inoperative position independently of said power lift, a seed selecting mechanism associated with each of said planting units. a driving connection for each of said mechanisms, and means for disconnecting either of said driving connections vresponsive to movement of its associated planting unit into raised position either by said power lift or by said independent means.

4, In'a two-row tractor planter having a power lift and comprising planting units disposed on opposite sides of the tractor and adapted to be raised and lowered, the combination of lifting means connecting said power lift with said planting units for raising said units, means associated with said lifting means for locking each unit in raised position independently of said power lift and for raising each unit independently of said power lift, lost motion connections between said power lift and said lifting means whereby when one of said planting units is locked in raised position said power lift means is operative to raise and lower the other planting unit, seed selecting mechanisms associated with said planting units, respectively, means for driving each of said mechanisms by power received from the tractor engine, and means responsive to the positions of said units for `disconnecting said driving means from their respective seed selecting mechanisms when either of said units is moved to raised position either by said power lift or independently thereof.

5. In a two-row tractor planter having a power lift and comprising planting units disposed on opposite sides of the tractor adapted to be raised and lowered, the combination of a plurality of lifting means connecting said power lift with said planting units for raising said units, a pivoted locking member carried by each of said lifting means, means for normally holding each locking member in -unlocked position during actuation of said power lift, and means for causing each locking member to lock the associated planting unit in raised position.

6. In a two-row tractor planter having a power lift and comprising planting units disposed on opposite sides of the tractor adapted to be raised and lowered, the combination oi' a plurality of lifting means connecting said power lift with said planting units for raisingsaidunits,apivoted locking member carried by each of said lifting means, means for normally holding each locking member in unlocked position during actuation of said power lift, means for causing each locking member to lock the associated planting unit in raised position, and manually operated releasing means for moving said locking member out of locked position.

'7. In a two-row tractor planter having a power lift and comprising planting units disposed on opposite sides of the tractor adapted to be raised and lowered, the combination of a plurality of lifting means connecting said power lift with said planting units for raising said units, a pivoted locking member carried by each of said lifting means, means for holding each locking member in unlocked position during actuation of said power lift, and manual means connected with each of said lifting means for raising said lifting means beyond the point to whichit is raised by said power' lift whereby by operating either of said manual means. its associated lock-- ing member is moved out of contact with said holding means and swings on its pivot into a position to lock said lifting means in raised position. Y

8. In a two-row tractor-planter having a power lift and comprising planting units disposed on opposite sides of the tractor adapted to be raised Y and lowered, the combination of a plurality oflifting means connecting said power lift with said planting units for raising said units, a pivoted locking membercarried by each of said lifting means, means for holding each locking member Y said lifting means independently of said power lift upon actuation of said manual means.

9. In a two-row tractor planter having a power lift and comprising planting units disposed on opposite sides -of the tractor and adapted to be raised and lowered, the combination of a plurality of lifting means connectingsaid power lift with said planting units for raising said units, a weighted locking dog pivotally mounted on each of said lifting means andadapted to normally lie in a locking position, stop means for holding said locking dog in unlocked position during the raising operation of said power lift mechanism, andmanual means operable to move said locking dog beyond said stop means whereby said dog will automatically move into a position to lock said lifting means in. a raised position.

10. In a two-row tractor planter having a power lift and comprising plantingV units disposed on oppositesides of the tractor adapted to be raised and lowered, thejcombination of a plurality of lifting means connecting'y said power lift with said planting units for raising said units, manual means connected with each of said. lifting means for raising said units independently of said power lift, seed selecting mechanisms associated with said `planting units, respectively, means for driving each of said mechanisms by power received from the tractor engine, and means responsive to the positions of said units for disconnecting said driving means from their respective seed selecting mechanisms when either of said units is moved vto raised position either by said power lift or independently thereof.

11. In a two-row tractor planter having a power lift and comprising planting units disposed on opposite sides of the tractor and adapted to bev raised and lowered, of a manually operated lifting means for raising each of said plantingv cluding a pivotally connected weighted locking dog adapted to move into a locking position when said planting units have 'been raised by said lifting means beyond the point to which-they are raised bythe power lift. f

12. In a two-row tractor.v planter having 'a power lift and comprising planting` units disposed on opposite sides of the tractor and adapted to be raised and lowered, the combination of a pluralityk of lifting means connecting said power lift with said planting units for raising said units,

'a weighted locking dog pivotally mounted on each of said lifting means and adapted to normally lie inv a locking position. stop means for holding each locking dog in unlocked position during the raisingr Voperation of saidv power lift, -manual means operable to move each lockingdog beyond said stop means whereby said dog will automatif' cally move into ay position to lock said lifting means in ay raised position, manually operated releasing means for moving eachlocking dog out of lockedposition, and a lost motion connection.. A

between each releasing means and its associated locking dog to permit said dogto swing into a' locking position. Y

l 13. A-plant'er comprising a seed selecting unit having seed selecting mechanism, a driving Sear for. driving saidseed selecting mechanism, a shaft supporting said gear, bearing means on said unit receiving said shaft, a fertilizer attachment f unit having fertilizer selecting mechanism, and

means detachablyl connecting said'fertilizer attachment unit'to the bearing means of said seed selecting unit, said fertilizer attachment unit in- .isL

cluding a pinion adapted to mesh directly with said driving gear when the fertilizer attachment unit is connected to said seed selecting unit whereby said fertilizer selecting mechanism is said frame for driving said seed selecting unit, a

fertilizer attachment unit including a gear mem.- ber, means detachably connecting said fertilizer attachment unit to said seed selectingunit comprising a pair of arms, and recesses formed in said bosses to receive said arms and position said fertilizer unit gearV member in operative association with said seeding unit driving gear.

15.A planter including a seed selecting unit having a frame, a pair of `bosses formed'integral with saidframe and extending outwardly thereg from, a driving gear supported on said frame for driving said seed selecting unit, lug receiving recses formed in said bosses, a fertilizer attachment unit including a driving gear member, a pair of arms carried by said fertilizer unit and having recesses formed therein for receiving said bosses, and means on said arms' extending outwardly from the recesses therein and provided with downwardly extending llugs adapted to seat in the lug receiving recesses in said bosses so as to hold said fertilizer unit driving gear member in mesh with said feeding unit driving gear .to be driven therefrom.

16.. A planter comprising in combination a seed selecting unit having seed selecting mechanism, a driving shaft, a driving gear on said driving shaft for driving said seed selecting mechanism, bearing sleeves receiving said driving I shaft,

. bosses formed on said bearing sleeves, a fertilizer atta''xment unit having fertilizer feeding mechanism, andl means detachably connecting said fertilizer attachment unitto said seed selecting unit comprising a pair of arms on the fertilizer 'l5 attachment and means formed on the outer ends of said arms adapted to fit over said bosses so as to dispose the fertilizer feeding mechanism in a position to be driven from said driving gear.

17. An agricultural implement comprising the combination of a tractor having a rear axle housing, an axle shaft therein, alseed selecting unit, a bracket attached to said axle housing and extending generally vertically therefrom and supporting said unit wholly on and directly over said rear axle housing, said seed selecting unit including a seeding shaft, and means, including a drive chain extending upwardly generally alongside said bracket, for driving said seeding shaft from said axle shaft.

18. An agricultural implement as defined in claim 17, further characterized by said driving means including clutch mechanism, and a transverse part supported adjacent the upper end of said bracket for operating said clutch mechanism.

19. A tractor planter comprising the combination of a tractor having a power lift and a rear axle housing, planting units comprising seed dispensing mechanism supported in fixed position on said axle housing substantially directly above the latter at opposite sides of the tractor and furrow opening parts positioned substantially directly below said axle housing and adapted to be raised and lowered toward and away from said axle housing, a seed tube extending directly downwardly from each of said units and alongside said rear axle housing to the associated furrow opening part, lifting means including a lever pivoted to said axle housing at each side of the tractor and extending forwardly of the axle housing for connecting said power lift with the forward portions of said parts for raising the` latter, and means reacting against said axle housing for locking the parts of either unit in raised position independently of said power lift.

20. An agricultural implement as defined in claim 19 in which each planting unit includes a seeding shaft, means rigidly supporting said unit wholly on and substantially directly above said housing, means for driving said seeding shaft from said driving axle, clutch means also supported on said housing for interrupting the driving connection between said driving axle and said seeding shaft, and means movably -mounted on said axle housing for operating said clutch means from one of said forwardly extending parts.

21. An agricultural implement comprising the combination of a tractor having a power lift, a driving axle and a housing enclosing the same at each side of the tractor, a planting unit at each side of the tractor, each planting unit including a seeding shaft supported on the associated axle housing and a furrow opener adapted to be raised and lowered, lifting means connecting said power lift with the furrow opener of each unit for raising the furrow openers, a driving connection between each seeding shaft and the driving axle at that side of the tractor, means for interrupting the driving connection for each seeding shaft when said power lift is actuated to raise the furrow opener for the planting unit at that side of the tractor, whereby the raising of either furrow opener automatically throws the associated planting unit out of operation and means for raising either furrow opened independently of the power lift and interrupting the associated driving connection.

22. An agricultural implement comprising the combination of a tractor having a rear axle housing, planting mechanism including seed selecting mechanism supported on said axle housing at one side thereof fertilizer distributing mechanism supported on said housing at the side opposite the seed selecting mechanism. a horizontally disposed seeding shalt supported on said housing between said fertilizer distributing mechanism and said seed selecting mechanism, means operativelyconnected with the seeding shaft and extending therefrom in generally opposite directions for driving said mechanisms, and means for driving said seeding shaft.

23. An agricultural implement comprising the combination of a tractor having a laterally extending part, planting mechanism including seed selecting mechanism supported on said part at one side thereof, fertilizer distributing mechanism supported on said part at the side opposite the seed selecting mechanism, a horizontally disposed seeding shaft supported between said fertilizer distributing mechanism and said seed selecting mechanism. means operatively connected with the` seeding shaft and extending therefrom in generally opposite directions for driving said mechanisms from said seeding shaft, and means for driving said seeding shaft.

24. An agricultural implement comprising the combination lof a tractor having a rear axle housing, planting mechanism including seed selecting mechanism 'supported yon said axle housing at one side thereof, fertilizer distributing mechanism supported on said housing at the side opposite the seed selecting mechanism, a horizontally disposed seeding shaft supported on said housing between said fertilizer mechanism and said seed selecting mechanism, means extending forwardly from the seed selecting mechanism and rearwardly from the fertilizer distributing mechanism for driving said mechanisms from said seeding shaft, and means for driving said seeding shaft.

25. An agricultural implement comprising the combination of a tractor having a rear axle housing, a driving shaft supported in said rear axle housing, a bracket secured to said housing, planting mechanism including seed selecting mechanism supported on said bracket at one side of said axle housing, fertilizer distributing mechanism supported by said bracket on the opposite side of said axle housing to said seed selecting mechanism, a seeding. shaft supported on said bracket, means for driving said seed selecting mechanism and said fertilizer distributing mechanism from said seeding shaft, and means for driving said seeding shaft from said driving shaft.

26. An agricultural implement comprising the combination of a tractor having a rear axle housing at each slde of the tractor, planting and fertilizer distributing mechanism supported on each axle housing, a separate connection for driving each of said planting and fertilizing distributing mechanisms, a furrow opener associated with each of said planting and fertilizer distributing mechanisms and adapted to be raised and lowered, power-lift mechanism for raising said furrow openers, means mounted on each of said axle housings and operable to interrupt the driving connection for the planting and fertilizer distributing mechanism at that side of the tractor when said power lift is actuated to raise the furrow openers, and a hand lever associated with each of said planting and fertilizer distributing mechanisms for raising the furrow openers associated therewith and operating to interrupt only distributing the driving connection of its associated-planting and fertilizer distributing mechanism.

27. A planter comprising a supporting frame, a

' connecting said fertilizer unit to said supporting bracket comprising an arm member on said fertilizer unit and cooperative means on said bracket to engage said arm member and position said 'fertilizer unit gear member in operative association with said seed selecting unit driving gear. 28. In combination with a tractor having laterally extending axle housings` a planter including a seed selectingunit, a i'pporting'frame therefor. means for'l attaching said frame to one of said axle'housings to be supported thereby in fixed relation thereto. a driving gear supported on said frame for driving said seed selecting unit, means for driving said gear from power received from the tractor engine, al fertilizer attachment unit including a driving gear member, means detachably connecting said fertilizer unit to said supporting frame comprising a bracket member on said fertilizer unit and cooperative means on said frame to engage said bracket member and position said fertilizer unit gear member in operative association with said seed selecting unit driving gear.

29. In combination with a tractor having laterally extending rear axle housings. a planter including a seed selecting unit. a supporting frame therefor. means for attaching said frame to one of said axle` housings to be supported thereby in fixed relation thereto whereby said seed selecting unit is positioned generally on one side of said axle housing, a driving gear supported on said frame for driving said seed selecting unit. means for driving said gear by power received from the tractor engine. a fertilizer attachment unit including a driving gear member, means detachably connecting said fertilizer unit to said supporting frame comprising a bracket member on said fertilizer unit and cooperative means on said frame to engage said bracket lmember and position said'fertilizer unltin fixed position on the o therl side of said axle housing relative to said seed selectingl unit and to maintain said fertilizer unit gear member in operative association with said seed selecting unit driving gear.

30. In combination with a tractor having laterally extending rear axle housings, a planter including a seed selecting unit, a supporting frame therefor, means for attaching said frame to one of said axlek housings to be supported above the latter in fixed relation thereto, a seed delivery tube associated with said unit and depending therefrom on one side of said axle housing, a driving gear supported on saidlframefor driving said seed selecting unit, means for drivingsaid gear by power received from the tractor engine, a fertilizer attachment unit including a driving gear member, means detachably connecting said fertilizer unit to said supporting frame comprising a bracket member on said fertilizer unit and cooperative means on said frame to engage said bracket member and position said fertilizer unit in fixed relation to said rear axle housing and to maintain said fertilizer unit gear member in operative association with said seed selecting unit driving gear, anda discharge tube associated with saidfertilizer unit and depending therefrom on the opposite side of said axle housing relative to said seed delivery tube.

31,'In an agricultural implement having a generally vertically shiftable operating unit adapted to be raised and lowered into and out of transport position; a power lift for raising and lowering said operating unit through a normal range of movement, locking means for said unit including a part biased to rnove into a position to hold the operating unit in raised position and means holding said part out of locked position while said operatingunit occupies a position within said given range of movement, means for moving said operating unit beyond said given range andv providing for the movement of said biased part into a position locking said operating unit. and means for releasing said biasedpart.

32. A planter comprising a supporting frame.

having a shaft receiving section. a seed selecting unit supportedon said frame. at one side of said section, a driving shaft rotatably mounted in saidframe section. a gear thereon operatively connected to drive said seed selectingunit, a fertilizer attachment unit including a driving connection, and attaching extension means carried`by said fertilizer attachment unit and engageable with said shaft receiving section for attaching said fertilizer attachment unit thereto and maintaining the driving connection thereof in proper position with respect to said driving gear.

33. In an agricultural implement comprising a tractor having a rear axle housing provided with attachment means carried thereby, an implement supporting bracket. means connecting the bracket to said attachment means on the tractor axle housing, a seed selecting unit attached to said bracket generally above said axle housing and overhanging the latter at one side thereof, and a fertilizer attachment unit also mounted on said bracket generally above and overhanging said axle housing at the other side thereof.

34. The combination set forth in claim 33 in which said bracket carries a driving shaft having a gear thereon and said seed selecting unit and said fertilizer attachment unit areprovided with gear members meshing with said driving gear when said units are secured to said bracket.

.35. The' combination set forth in claim 33 in which said bracket carries a driving shaft having a V'gear thereon and said seed selecting unit and said fertilizer attachment unit'are provided with gear members meshing with said driving gear when said units are secured to said bracket, and means forattaching said fertilizer unit to the .lower portion of said bracket and to the portion thereof in which saidshaft is journaled.

36. In an agricultural implement comprising a tractor having a rear axle housing provided with attachment means carried th'ereby, an implement supporting bracket, means connecting the bracket to said attachment means on the tractor axle housing, a seed selecting unit attached to said bracket generally above said axle housing and overhanging the latter at one side thereof, a seed selecting shaft therefor mounted at the upper end of said bracket, seed receiving furrow opener means disposed substantially directly underneath said axle housing and movably connected with said tractor forwardly of the axle housing, a lifting lever operatively connected to raise and lower said furrow opening means, 'and meanspivoting said lifting lever o n said bracket substartially directly underneath said seed selecting s uft.

- 37. A planter as defined in claim 36, further vsaid bracket formed with upper characterized by a clutch for interrupting the drive to said shaft, a movable transversely disposed member supported generally alongside said shaft for controlling the latter, one encll of said member being disposed in a position to be engaged by a part of the lifting leverwhereby actuation of the latter to raise said furrow opening means automatically disengases said clutch.

38. A planter as defined in claim 36 in which a clutch is provided for interrupting the drive to said shaft, and a lever pivoted to said bracket for controlling said clutch, one end of said lever Abeing disposed in engagement with said lifting lever whereby'actuation of the latter to raise said furrow opening `means automatically disengages said clutch. v

39. An agricultural implement comprising the combination of a tractor having a rear axle housing with laterally spaced attachment means on. one side thereof, a bracket adapted to be disposed generally vertically and comprising laterally spaced sections. means' attaching said bracket sections to the laterally spaced attachment means. and an operating unit supported at the upper-end of said bracket.

40. The combination set forth in claimli, with and lower. portions offset with respect to each other so as to dispose the upper portion-ofthe bracket 'generally directly above said axle housing.

41. The combination of claim 39. further characterized by ground engaging parts movably connected with said operating unit and adapted to be raised and lowered, and means supported on said bracket for raising and loweringsaid parts.

42. Means for supporting an operating unit of an agricultural implement on the axleof a tractor, comprising a bracket 4having two spaced apart sections and means connecting said spaced sections together at their upper and lower ends.

43. An operating unit supporting bracket as defined in claim 42 wherein the lower portion of* said bracket is provided with bolt-receiving apertures and the upper portion of the bracket is provided with two spaced apart operating unit receiving arms.

44. A bracket as defined in claim 42m which the upper spaced apart portions of the bracket carry apertured lugs to receive 'an adjusting lever.

45. A bracket as dennen in claim 42 in which the upper spaced apart portions of the bracket carryf apertured lugs to receive an adjusting lever, and an abutment on the side of said bracket opposite said lugs to receive a locking Dart on said lever. l

48.' A planter including a seed selecting unit, a frame supporting said unit, a pair of bosses formed integral with said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, a driving member supported on said frame for driving said seed se lecting unit, a fertilizer attachment unit including a part adapted to be driven from said driving member, means detachably connecting said fertilizer unit to said seed selecting unit comprising a pair of arms. andrecesses formed in said boues to receive said arms and position said fertilizer part in the proper position to be driven from said driving member.

47. An agricultural implement comprising the combination of a tractor having a driving axle and a housing enclosing the same, a seed selecting unit. a bracket attached to said axle housing and extending generally 'vertically therefrom and supporting said unit substantially directly over said axle housing, said seed selecting unit including a seeding shaft. a vertically shiftable ground engaging runner. lifting means movable generally above the axle, means including clutch mechanism and a drive chain extending generally upwardly alongside said bracket for driving the seeding shaft from the driving axle, a transverse part supported adjacent the upper end of said bracket for operating said clutch mechanism, and means for operating said part from said lifting means.

48. An agricultural implement comprising the combination of a tractor, a seed selecting unit, a bracket supporting said unit at one side of the tractor, a vertically movable furrow opener, a seeding shaft mounted for rotation adjacent said supporting bracket, clutch means at the laterally outer end of the seeding shaft for controlling the latter,` a transversely extending part supported adjacent said bracket for operating said clutch means and extending from one side of said unit to the other, lifting means disposed generally between said unit and the tractor for raising said furrow opener, and means establishing engagement between the inner end of said transverse part and said lifting means for disconnecting said clutch means when the furrow 50 opener is raised.

CHARLES H. WHITE. 

